Ezekiel

Ezekiel 39:1-8

Ezekiel is called to prophesy as the Lord detailed His work.  The Lord would bring them up as He said and then He would disarm them.  They would realize they were always in His hands and at His will.  They would fall across the land and the Lord would give them to the birds and beasts like a feast of great sacrifice. 

God would then bring fire on Magog, a land seeming to be in Turkey.  He would also bring fire on the coastlands; this is likely a reference to the nations, 'those who dwell securely in the isles.'

We are reminded again, this is for the restoration of the Lord's name after it was profaned among His people by their continued sin leading to judgment and exile.  The Lord assures us it is coming and as good as done. 

Ezekiel 39:9-10

The weapons from this war (that never really was) a major cleanup effort.  All the weapons would be gathered and provide fuel for 7 years.  This time frame appears to be symbolic as the burning of the weapons may also be.  It's a completeness, rest from the work of restoring His people and His name.  Peace. 

In addition, the plundered and the pillaged would become the plunderers and pillagers.  This is a major reversal, a gift from God to His people; peace, security and a God who calls them His own.

Ezekiel 39:11-16

Gog will be buried in Israel.  'The valley of those who pass by' could mean the valley of those who passed on.  This valley of the underworld that will obstruct travelers.  This would then soon be a valley of dry bones; interesting thought in relation to Ezekiel 37.  Hamon God means the multitude of Gog.  Could be a wordplay with Valley of Gehenna or Ben-Hinnon.  The seven months to bury them is thought to be symbolic; it's a month for each ally of Gog.  They will bury the bodies.  They will have a system to mark the locations of bodies or parts to have them buried.  This would bring cleansing to the land.

The valley was a giant graveyard.  This story started in Ezekiel 36:22 when the Lord said the work of Israel's renewal was to restore His good name.  Then in Ezekiel 37 the dry bones in a great valley gravesite provide a picture of the resurrection.  The bones were resurrected so the Lord could restore His great name.  His name is restored in the victory over this great coalition.

Ezekiel 39:17-20

The Lord provided a great sacrificial offering of which the beasts of the field and birds of the air would eat.  It was a sacrifice that brought glory to the Lord though it wasn't a sacrifice to Him or for Him.  The sacrifice came from the mighty, the princes of the earth to their god of pride and of wickedness.  A similar scene is seen in Rev 19:17-21.

Ezekiel 39:21-24

The summon of Gog was to restore the reputation of God and His name.  All the nations will observe.  This wasn't possible until the last 10 years or so.  Now, all nations can watch something like this live, with satellite footage, drone footage, body cams, etc.  Eye witnesses will give account of how God intervened and saved His people.  Israel will have no doubts about God. 

The gentiles will understand; God has always been mighty, but He's also just.  He sent His people into exile as punishment – they weren't taken there by a strong army against a weak god.  It was iniquity that caused this.  Then, all the nations will know He is God and He is Almighty.

Ezekiel 39:25-29

This is Ezekiel's prophesy of hope that God's purpose would be completed.  The nation would be restored and His name would be restored and hallowed among the nations.  The idea of being hallowed is to be set apart, far above all other perceived gods. The nations would know the Lord is jealous for His name; He is zealous and active in defending it.  His own people rebelled and blasphemed His name to the point He had to bring judgment.  His name, reputation, was damaged among the nations because it appeared He could not save His people from Babylon.  The same nations would notice His regathering them and restoration of them. 

Checkout Zechariah 12 and 14. 

©2020 Doug Ford